Global Wealth and Society Programme

The Global Wealth and Society programme seeks to identify the important role that the privileged have towards their respective society. In building this programme, we measure wealth, not by the amount of financial assets individuals amass but by the positive impact they create on society through sustainable projects. Projects that are close to their hearts and which they believe to affect their immediate society in a deep and profound manner.

Based on this philosophy of contribution and giving back to the society, we identify these individuals as “Champions of Philanthropy” as part of our Global Wealth and Society Awards Programme.

Over the next few weeks until early October, our research team will be adding new names to the list and will be reaching out to them as part of the awards evaluation process.

The list below profiles selected Champions and their shortlisted projects across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East . In doing so, the list also tracks the way they are investing and deploying their wealth to bring about positive impacts on the society that they operate in.

He Qiaonv

Chairwoman,Orient Landscape - China

The investment from the Beijing Qiaonv Foundation will support efforts to protect Chinese snow leopards and other big cats in China and around the world a significant commitment to a cause that has received less attention in Asia than it has in other regions

He Xiangjian

Co-founder, Midea Group - China

donation of 300 to 500m RMB on Shunde Foundation. The project is to help young entrepreneurs to starup companies and support innovation

Pan Shiyi

Chairman, SOHO China - China

The SOHO China Scholarships mission is to connect China's outstanding students, with financial need, to the best education the world has to offer. The SOHO China Scholarships also actively raises public awareness about need-blind admissions policies at top international universities and encourages the best Chinese students to apply. Beyond endowing the scholarships at each partner school, the SOHO China Scholarships works directly with scholarship recipients to nurture their educational and professional aspirations.

Wang Zhentao

Chairman and Founder, Zhejiang Aokang Shoes Co. Ltd. - China

Wang Zhentao Charity Foundation is founded by Wang Zhentao in 2007. The foundation aims at helping the poor and contributing to charity in China. It funds poor student to finish their study and find a job smoothly. Moreover, those who were helped shoiuld come back and support another poor student after work, which makes the foundation a "seed foundation". The number of students who benefit from the foundation is believed to increase rapidly.

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll

Singer, Songwriter, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Founder, Barefoot Foundation - Colombia

Currently, the Barefoot Foundation supports six schools run by Pies Descalzos Foundation, in the diverse Colombian regions of Barranquilla, Altos de Cazucá and Quibdó.More than 5,000 children receive nutritious meals, education and psychological support services from our schools, ultimately benefiting 30,000 vulnerable children, their family and community members, all who have been affected by population displacement. It also works in Haiti and South Africa.

Mohamed Mansour

Founder and Chairman, Mansour Automotive Company - Egypt

The Lead Foundation focuses on reaching out directly to vulnerable segments of society most in need of empowerment: low-income entrepreneurs and women. The foundation has provided over 1.3 million loans to small businesses and underprivileged women in Egypt and successfully reaches out to and provides for its target groups.

Mohamed Al Fayed

Owner, Hotel Ritz Paris - Egypt

The foundation's work focuses on improving the lives of traumatised, impoverished and very sick children. It extends from supporting world-renowned children’s hospitals, to children’s hospices, schools and individuals.

Fred Swaniker

Co-founder,African Leadership Academy - Ghana

African Leadership Academy seeks to transform Africa by developing a powerful network of over 6,000 leaders who will work together to address Africa's greatest challenges, achieve extraordinary social impact, and accelerate the continent's growth trajectory.

Chen Yidan

Honorary Adviser Tencent Holding Ltd. - Hong Kong

Founded in 2016 by Charles Chen Yidan, Yidan Prize has a mission to create a better world through education. Yidan Prize consists of two awards: Yidan Prize for Education Research and Yidan Prize for Education Development. Yidan Prize Laureate receives a gold medal and a total sum of HK$30 million (around $3.9 million) including a cash prize of HK$15 million (around $1.9 million) and a project fund of HK$15 million.

Robert Ho Hung Ngai

Founder and Chairman,Robert H N Ho Family Foundation - Hong Kong

Established in 2005 by Mr. Robert H. N. Ho, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in Hong Kong. The Foundation's dual mission is to foster an appreciation of Chinese arts and culture to advance global learning and to cultivate a deeper understanding of Buddhism in the context of contemporary life.